The 48-Year Wait
For 48 years, Delhi has topped the National Crime Records Bureau charts for crimes against women. Yet, until June 2026, the national capital did not have a single women's police station . That gap finally closed on June 19, 2026, with the inauguration of Delhi's first all-women police station at the Subzi Mandi Police Station complex in North district .
The station was inaugurated by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu in a ceremony attended by Police Commissioner Satish Golchha . The launch follows directions issued by the LG to the Police Commissioner for building women-only police stations in the national capital as part of efforts to make Delhi a safe environment for females .
What the Station Will Do
The new police station is not merely a Crime Against Women (CAW) cell with a new name. It functions as a regular police station, staffed entirely by women personnel and headed by a woman Station House Officer (SHO), with a handful of male officers providing support during raids and field operations .
The station will handle all offences against women, including:
Rape and molestation
POCSO cases involving minor girls
Acid attacks and human trafficking
Dowry-related harassment and dowry deaths
Domestic violence and matrimonial disputes
Stalking, voyeurism, and other forms of harassment
While the CAW cell currently handles only dowry complaints and marital disputes, the women's police station will both register and investigate cases, including serious offences that previously required women to navigate intimidating male-dominated environments .
The Force Behind the Station
The station is expected to be staffed by 50 to 60 personnel, including women constables, sub-inspectors, and inspectors . It will have a dedicated 24x7 emergency response team to tackle urgent incidents . The station will exercise jurisdiction across the entire North district.
This pilot project is the first step in a much larger plan. The Delhi Police has confirmed that dedicated all-women police stations, catering exclusively to crimes and complaints of women and children, will be established in every police district across the city . Police Commissioner Golchha has already sought suggestions from district DCPs on suitable locations and staffing requirements .
The Kerala Precedent
Delhi is not the first to attempt this model. India's first women's police station was inaugurated in Kozhikode, Kerala, by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in October 1973 . Some historians argue it may have been the world's first such police station . The station was established to provide a safe and accessible space for women to file complaints, especially related to family issues and domestic violence .
Kerala's experience suggests the model works. The current in-charge of the Kozhikode station noted that "most of the cases are related to family issues and domestic violence, areas where female officers' empathetic understanding can make a significant difference" .
The Broader Challenge
The women's police station is coming to Delhi at a time when women remain severely underrepresented in the police force's leadership. According to the India Justice Report 2025, 90 per cent of all women in policing serve in the constabulary, with less than 1,000 women in senior positions like Director-Generals and Superintendents of Police . Out of 2.4 lakh women in police, only 960 are in the Indian Police Service . Delhi itself has only three female SHOs out of 224 police stations, and women make up only 10 per cent of the total police force .
Creating women's police stations is one step toward addressing this structural gap. As former Delhi Police officer Ved Bhushan noted, "Victimised women will feel more secure and open to sharing their problems in front of women officers" . The pilot project in North Delhi will determine whether Delhi can replicate what Kerala has achieved over half a century.
